Knee-protector.



R. C. BASSETT.

KNEE PROTECTOR.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 9, 1914.

Patented Mar. 16, 1915.

fiGBawelZmve Witnesses Attorneys THE NORRIS PETERS CO.. PHDTILLITHQ.WASHINGTON. D. C.

r'wros c. BASSET'I, or COMANCHE, TEXAS.

KNEE-PROTECTOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 16, 15915.

Application filed June 9, 1914. Serial No. 844,048.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RUFUS C. BASSETT, a citizen of the United States,residing at Comanche, in the county of Comanche and State of Texas, haveinvented a new and useful Knee-Protector, of which the following is aspecification.

The present invention appertains to knee protectors, and aims to providea novel and improved knee protector adapted to be worn by cottonpickers, miners, and other workmen whoare required towalk or labor whileresting on the knees.

The present invention contemplates the provision of a knee protector ofunique construction, whereby it will be peculiarly adapted for theintended purposes, the present device while applied to the knee,permitting the wearer to walk conveniently either while standing orkneeling.

Another object of the invention is to provide a knee protector whichwill conveniently and effectively accommodate the knee of the wearer andwhich will permit the leg to be straightened out Without difficulty whenthe wearer assumes a standing position.

WVith the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the combination andarrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the-preciseembodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within thescope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

The invention has been illustrated in its preferred embodiment in theaccompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation of theimproved knee protector as in use. Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view ofthe device. Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 3*3 of Fig.2.

The frame of the present invention includes a pair of upright strips orbars 1 which have their lower ends bent angularly .inward, as at 2, andriveted or otherwise secured upon the end portions of a semi-circular orarcuate base plate or foot 3. The arcuate base plate or foot 3 projectsforwardly from the side bars 1, and the bars 1 are connected above thefoot 3 by forwardly curved yokes 1 which are arranged to surround theforward portion of the limb above the knee when the frame is set astridethe limb over the knee joint. The forward portion of the foot plate 3 iscurved upward slightly.

in order to hold the frame in place upon the limb, a pair of straps areattached to one of the side bars 1 in rear of the yokes 4, and buckles 6are attached to the other bar 1 opposite the basal ends of the straps 5.The lower strap 5 is arranged to pass in rear of the knee joint, whilethe upper strap 5 is arranged to pass in rear of the thigh abovetheknee, and the free ends of the straps 5 are adjustably engageable withthe buckles 6 to thereby cause the yokes it and straps 5 to snuglyembrace the limb directly above the knee joint.

Yieldably mounted between the side bars 1 is a knee pad or stirrup 7,which incorporates a pair of side members 8 having their central orintermediate portions pivoted upon the inner ends of the bolts 9slidable within longitudinal or vertical slots 10 formed in the bars 1adjacent their lower ends. An endless pad or stirrup element 11 ispassed around the side members 8 and is provided with the openings 12intermediate its edges through which the bolts or pivot members 9 arepassed, it being observed that the pad or saddle 7, including themembers 8 and the fabric or textile element 11, may

swing forward and rearwardly about a transverse horizontal axis.

As a means for yieldingly supporting the pad or stirrup 7, inner andouter washers 13 are mounted upon the bolts 9 adjacent the inner andouter sides of the bars 1, and the outer washers 14 are provided withupper hooks 15, while the bars 1 are provided above the hooks 15, withcomplementary hooks 16. Coiled wire retractile springs 17 are. disposedupon the outer sides of the bars 1 and have their ends engaged to therespective hooks 15 and 16, to thereby yieldably support the bolts orpivot members 9.

In applying the protector to the limb, the frame of the protector isplaced astride the limb adjacent the knee, so that the yokes 4c surroundthe forward portion of the thigh directly above the knee joint. Thestraps 5 are then passed around the back of the knee joint and thigh andare attached to the buckles 6, whereby the yokes 1 and straps 5 willgirdle the lower portion of the thigh directly above the knee joint. Thelower strap 5 fitting snugly in rear of the knee joint will permit thelimb to be readj:

ily doubled or straightened out, and at th same time, the two straps 5will effectively hold the yokes 4: snugly against the limb.

The knee is adapted to rest upon the textile .or fabric element 11,which will provide a comparatively soft or yielding pad element for theknee, and when the'weight of the wearer is imposed upon the knee, thepad or stirrup 7 may yield inasmuch as the pivot members 9 may bedepressed Within the slots 10 and are yieldably supported by the springs17. In this manner, the pad or stirrup is not only inherently yieldable,but is yieldably supported, to render the protector comfortable in itsuse, and to avoid chafing or other injury to the knee. Another advantageresides in the fact that the pad or stirrupis pivotally mounted betweenthe bars 1, whereby the pad or stir' V ent device is worn in pairs, inorder that the wearer may walk or labor upon his knees, and when doingso, the pads or stirrup upon which the knees rest, are spaced above thesoil or underlying surface, to'prevent the knees from contacting withthe hard soil, hot sand, rocks, mud and the like. As the wearer walksupon the knees, the pad 11 will swing or oscillate properly, accordingto the movement of the respective limb,and furthermore, each pad willyield under the varying conditions, to the comfort of the wearer.

The arcuate base plate or foot 3 provides a relatively large bearingsurface, in order that the protector may rest flatly or efiectively uponthe soil or other surface, and whereby the protector will not be liableto sink readily into soft or muddy soil. sand and the like. The peculiarfoot piece 3 also enables the wearer to conveniently and readily walkwhile on his knees.

The present device is particularly adapted for protecting the knee whilewalking or laboring thereon and for preventing the Copies of this patentmay be obtained for knee from engaging the soil, or the like, as

notd iifrequently results in chafing, rheumatism, and other ailments.The inner sides of the side bars 1 are smooth and unencumbered, toprevent injury to the limb while the limb reciprocates slightly withinthe frame, due to the yielding move ,ment of the pad or stirrup 7, andthe presouter sides of the said bars and yieldably.

supporting the said members, and a knee pad carried by the said membersbetween the said bars. v

2. A knee protector including side bars having slots, pivot membersworking within the said slots, springs disposed upon the outer sides ofthe bars and connected to the said pivot members to yieldably supportthe same, and a knee pad disposed between the said bars andincludingside members pivotally engaged with the said pivot mem' bers and ayield-able element connecting the said side members.

-3. A knee protector embodying'side bars having forwardly projectingyokes connecting them, a forwardly projecting arcuate foot pieceattachedto the lowerends of the side bars and arranged to let the leg bestraightened out, a yieldable knee pad mounted between the said bars,and straps for connecting the side bars adapted to co-- operate with thesaid yokes to girdle a limb above the knee joint.

at. A knee protector embodying side bars having forwardly projectingyokes connecting them, a forwardly projecting arcuate foot pieceattached to the lower ends of the side bars and arranged to let the legbe straightened out, a knee pad pivotally and yieldably mounted betweenthe side bars, and straps for connecting the side bars adapted toco'fiperate with the said yokes to girdle a limb above theknee joint.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aiiixedmy signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

RUFUS C. BASSETT.

Vitnesses: V

Conn BALDWIN, P. S. SMITH.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

